Samir Kaul is a Founding Partner and Managing Director at Khosla Ventures, where he specializes in AI. See sector focus and contact routes.
Samir Kaul is a Founding Partner and Managing Director at Khosla Ventures, where he specializes in AI, advanced technology, health, sustainability, and food after starting his career in genomic sciences at Craig Venter’s Institute for Genomic Research and spending five years at Flagship Ventures [1][2][5]. His investment thesis targets early-stage companies in deep tech, biotech, and sustainable food systems, primarily in the United States, with a focus on ventures where the underlying physics is sound even if the scientific establishment is skeptical [1][6]. Kaul is known for leading outsized, first-round bets, most notably cutting the firm’s first and largest check into OpenAI, which was described as a $50M investment [5][6]. Notable portfolio companies he led include OpenAI, Impossible Foods, Guardant Health, Nutanix, and Vicarious Surgical, many of which achieved successful exits via IPO or acquisition [4][5][12]. A distinctive point of view Kaul advocates is embracing extreme technical risk while minimizing market risk, hunting for deals where consensus is lacking but the science is robust [6][11]. He evaluates ventures based on four pillars: an exemplary team, a massive marke
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